Crammed up Mumbai, has Big Plans for Facelift
The makeover of Mumbai’s majorly derelict docklands is under planning stage. If in case the panel appointed by the government approves, a waterfront can uplift the mood of the city and its rich.
Narinder Nayar, an entrepreneur who’s based from this panel, who will be unleashing his recommendations this week exclaimed that, this would be a great opportunity to give the city its much needed open space!
The largest land owner in the country’s financial hub, bought by Mumbai Port Trust has more than 7 sq kms up for revamping. This is majorly engaged today by crumbling down of several warehouses, informal housing sectors and workers who are breaking down unused ships or sorting ship scraps.
The government, who had made an estimate of the space at $12 billion or Rs 73,200 crores, is eyeing at this project as a glorifying example of how an urban regeneration is possible in India. The Federal Transport minister Nitin Gadkari expressed his desire for a giant ferris wheel similar to that of the London Eye, in the city.
Mr Nayar expressed his view that the city planning can be made by keeping in mind cities like New York, Sydney, London and Barcelona. This will help us find a clue as to what all can be planned with the existing industrial spaces on the waterfront.
As the shoreline of the Western city faces Arabian Sea, this area is situated on the guided eastern phase of the city’s southern tip, enabling a great view of the harbour and the mainland, where the new deep-sea container port will be positioned.
Nayar stated that the planning panel will suggest to open common space with a hospital and some affordable housing projects, which will be connected by new rail lines in 30 per cent of the available land.There are expectations for a world class convention centre and a floating hotel too, and a tender is already published for a luxury marina for the city’s richies.
Bombay had its natural harbour majorly standardised during colonial days. Most of present city stands on reclaimed space that gathered up a thread of minute islands across India’s western coast.
However, Mumbai has not so far having a positive track record for urban infrastructure. Extreme demographic issues and major delays for underpinning projects have mostly meant all developments are constrained by the citizen’s endless needs.
Roughly 12.5 million citizens are there on this ‘island city’ alone and nearly 21 million in the larger metropolitan location.
Citizens and urban professionals fear that this Mumbai port project would either not accomplish to take off, or give away to the existing irrational building spreads seen off the nation.
Federal Transport minister, Mumbai port project, Mumbai Port Trust, NarinderNayar, Nitin gadkari, urban infrastructure, urban regeneration
